A trio of young men have been remanded in custody pending sentencing and trial on six charges of breaking and entering a property on Gamma Island and stealing a dinghy.

Dean Pitt, 18 from Hibiscus Lane, Warwick pleaded guilty to three of the charges while Curtis Hill, 17 of Spice Hill Road, Southampton and Devonne Hodgson, 18 of Sun Valley, Warwick pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

Gamma Island is midway between Darrell?s and Hawkins Islands in Hamilton Harbour.

Pitt?s sentencing was adjourned until April 12 following an update on his social inquiry. Hodgson and Hill will also return that day for trial.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court that sometime between 29 January and 13 February, Pitt broke into a house on Gamma Island and stole various items including a rain-suit, alcohol and binoculars worth an estimated $1,215. Pitt told the court that he was out on a boat which sank and he was forced to swim to Gamma Island where he broke into the house and took a rain-suit and a towel because he was ?soaking wet?.

?I left a note explaining what had happened and left my name and telephone number,? Pitt told the court. Pitt also admitted taking a $7,000 dingy ? which belonged to the owner of Gamma Island, Alexander Frith ? in order to get back to the mainland after the other boat sank.

?I thought Bermuda got rid of pirates!? Mr. Warner replied, to which the courtroom erupted in laughter. Pitt denied returning and stealing items worth more than $1,586, including a pair of binoculars, silverware and alcohol.

However, later during the hearing Pitt did admit to returning to the Island, but said it was simply to retrieve the note he had left. He explained that when he got back to the mainland he and others got drunk on the alcohol he had stolen.

?I told them about the note and we went back to get it. (Then) stuff got crazy and people started taking things,? he said. ?I did not take nothing from the house.?

Mr. Warner asked Pitt about the boat which sank earlier on the day in question and whom it belonged to and Pitt replied that he was told it was Hodgson?s uncle?s boat. At this remark Hodgson laughed aloud. Ms Clarke told the court that Pitt returned to Gamma Island once again sometime between January 29 and February 13 and broke into a garden shed.

She said he stole an outboard engine and electrical equipment valued at $2,300. However, Pitt was never pressed by Mr. Warner to elaborate on the charge.

Ms Clarke said Gamma Island was hit a fourth time when a $500 generator stolen. At first Pitt pleaded not guilty to this charge, but then told the court that he had just helped others carry the generator down to the dingy ?because it was heavy?. At this the court erupted in laughter and Mr. Warner simply shook his head.

The 12-foot Carolina skiff valued at $3,000 which had been stolen from Mr. John Pitt of Warwick, was later recovered capsized near Gamma Island and cost almost $2,000 to repair. Hodgson pleaded not guilty to stealing the skiff. Ms Clarke told the court that Police also recovered the stolen dinghy and went to the owners? house to find it broken into.